Wire-holder for fences



H. G. PRATT.

WIRE HOLDER FOR FENGES. No. 338,775. Patented Mar-.60, 1886.

N. PETERS. Photo-L thographer. Wallingkm. D. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. PRATT, OF GANANDAIGUA, NEWV YORK.

WIRE-HOLDER FOR FENCES.

FJPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,775, dated March30,1886.

Serial No. 166,656. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY G. PRATT, of Canandaigua, in the county ofOntario and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in \Vire- Holders for Fences, which improvement is fully setforth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates, mainly, to portable wire fences for farmers use,such as can be conveniently placed around stacks of grain or hay,garden-patches, and the like, or used to temporarily confine calves orother small animals belonging to farmers stock; and the inventionconsists in improved clamps for the wires, assisting to facilitate theputting up or taking down of the fence, said invention be inghereinafter-fully described, and more particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a post of myimproved fence, showing three wire clamps in place thereon, holding asmany wires, a part of one of the clamps being broken away to show thelocking-notch of the part beneath; Fig. 2, a cross-section of the post,taken as on the dotted line a; in Fig. 1, looking down upon the same,the figure being drawn to further show the form of the wire-clamp; Fig.3, a side elevation of the upper part of thepost, viewed as indicated byarrow y in Fig. 1, showing one of the wire-clamps secured thereto; Fig.4, a view of the lower ends of the parts of the clamping device, viewedas indicated by arrow z in Fig. 3, drawn to further show the manner inwhich the two parts of the clamp lock together thereat; and Fig. 5, aview of a portion of the lower ends of the jaws of the clamp, viewed inthe same direction in which Fig. 3 is seen, a part of the jaw of ,theclamp next the post being broken away and centrally sectioned, as on thedotted line i in Fig. 1, the figure being drawn to further show thetongue and lockingnotch of the parts of the clamp.

The posts for this fence may be sawed rectangular in cross-section, asshown, or may be split, having spots leveled or straightened upon theirsurfaces, at which to attach the clamps for the wire above mentioned, orthey may be made of round sticks or saplings properly shaped to receivesaid wire-clamps. These posts are pointed at their lower ends for thepurpose of being driven into the ground, and, if desirable, may have aniron band around each at the top, or be other wise metal-capped toprevent splitting from driving.

Referring to the parts, the clamps c are made up of two opposing jaws,tand a, between which the wire is held, a tighteningbolt, 12, passingthrough the post I and clamp, and a lever-nut, in, serving to operatethe outer or movable jaw. The meeting faces of the jaws are curved andprovided with vertical ridges a to more firmly grip the wire. The innerjaw, 14, of the clamp lies directly against a face of the post, the twojaws having abearing at m below the bolt to enable the latter to causethe jaws to pinch the wires. These clamps are put upon the face of thefirst post of the fence, as shown in Fig. 1, each one in position tohold an end of the respective wires of the fence.

The bearing at m is a simple lock formed to assist to hold the jawsrelatively together. The inner jaw, 20, is formed with an opening, a,and the contiguous part of the outer jaw, t, is formed with a tongue,I), fitted to enter said opening a, the shoulders c of said jaw itresting against the jaw u on either side of the opening. This simplelock or catch prevents the outerjaw from at any time turning upon thebolt out of place.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In combination with the post of awire fence, a clamp, c, for the wire, consisting of an inner jaw bearingagainst the post, an outer opposing jaw,and clamping'bolt for said jaws,with a lever-nut formed in one piece for said clampingbolt, the innerjaw being formed with a slit at its lower end, and the outer jaw beingturned at its lower end toward said inner jaw, and formed with a tonguefor said slit and shoulders or rests to bear against said inner jaw,substantially as shown.

2. In combination with the post of a wire fence, a clamp for the wire,consisting of an outer and an inner jaw, the latter bearing tenon toenter said slit and shoulders to bear against said post, aelainping-bolt for said against said inner jaw, substantially as shown10 jaws, with lever-nut for said bolt, the opposing and described.

elamping-faces of said jaws being formed, re-

5 spectively, convex and concave, said inner HENRY PRATT jaw beingformed with a slit at its lower end, Witnesses: and said outer jaw beingturned at its lower E. B. WHITMORE, end to meet said inner jaw andformed with a M. E. FURLONG.

